Musical instrument



Feb, 15, 1944. Q KlMMEL 2,341,725

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

My invention relates to musical instruments, and particularly to an instrument in the nature of a pedal piano or pedalier.

An object of my invention is to provide means associated with a dancing platform by which the dancer may play his own musical accompaniment, or supplement an accompaniment provided by other means. Novel features of my invention comprise improvements in the form and arrangement of the action, and in the arrangement of the pedal keys that are intended for operation by the feet of the dancer. The construction is such that it adapts itself for a compact foot operated instrument having a relatively wide range; that is to say, the instrument may provide for as many as eighty-eight notes within a relatively small space.

One of the important considerations in the construction of an instrument of the type of the present invention is that of providing for suitable multiplication of movement between the pedal and the striking hammer, it being desirable that the movement of the pedal key shall be relatively small if quick action such as required for rapidly repeated notes is desired. Since the force available for the actuation of the keys is relatively great as compared to that normally exerted by the fingers, a construction may be adopted in which the necessary pedal movement is comparatively minute. Furthermore, provision should be made for insuring against damage to the action in the event that an unexpectedly great force is exerted on a key.

As stated, an important feature is that of the arrangement of the keys relative to the tones that may be produced. Since an operator has but two feet. as compared with ten fingers available for playing a conventional piano, I have so arranged the keys that harmonies may be produced by the use of either or both feet.

While the invention, in certain of its aspects, is particularly concerned with an instrument adapted for pedal operation, it is to be understood that other aspects of the invention, such for example as the form and arrangement of the action are adapted for use with percussion type instruments generally, including conventional pianos and the like.

The advantages and possibilities of arrangement of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

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Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the instrument on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings a supporting frame is indicated by the numeral l0, transverse members H, Ila, llb, et cetera, serving to support the various elements of the assembly.

A dancing platform is made up of horizontal fiat sections l2 supported at one end on one of the frame members H and at the opposite end on a frame member 13. These sections cover a free or open space, as will be best understood by reference to Fig. 2. The remainder of the plat form is made up of rectangular sections [4 supported at their sides on the frame members Ill and containing oval, elongated openings for receiving the foot pedals or keys I5. Firmly secured within the openings are cylinders I! open at top and bottom. The stems l8 of the keys !5 are vertically reciprocable within and guided by the cylinders I1. Bearing plugs I9 are secured within the lower ends of the key stems, the key stems also being provided at their lower ends with'flanges l9a adapted to be brought into abutting engagement against the lower ends of the cylinders I! to limit the upward movement of the keys. The downward movement of the keys is limited by the seating of the key heads within their seats 15a, formed in the sections M.

It will be noted that each key I5 is seated Within the recess in the section I4 so that it is substantially flush with the general surface of the platform, and that but very slight clearance is provided beneath the key and the seat |5a provided in the section l4. Thus the movement necessary to seat the key is very slight-in practice about 3% of an inch.

A link 20, adjustable as to length by means of an adjustment screw 29a, is provided for each key, for connecting the lower end of the key stem to a lever 2| pivoted as indicated at 23 on a frame bracket 24. The link is provided with spherical heads on either end thereof for engaging the plug I9 and a seat formed on the end of the lever 2!. Lever 2! is provided with an arm 22 connected by means of a link 25 with the short end 26 of a bell-crank, pivoted at 21 to the bracket. The long arm 28 of the bell-crank is connected to a pull rod or tracker 29 that extends longitudinally of the structure and is connected with the juncture of the two arms 3l-32 of a toggle, the lower end of toggle link 3! being pivotally mounted on a bracket 33 carried by a subframe memoer Ha. A flexure spring is also mounted on g the bracket 33, this flexure spring being bifurcated at its upper end so as to loosely embrace the pull rod The rod is provided with an abutment surface 25a which is adapted to enthe spring at a predetermined point as the rod is shifted to the left as seen in Fig. 2, upon depression of its actuating key 15.

A link or push rod 34 connects the upper link 32 f the toggle to a rocker 35 pivoted at 36 to a bracket carried by a frame cross piece lib. A guide link 32a pivotally mounted upon the bracket pivotaily connects,with the toggle link 32 and the link 3%, to insure the proper movement of the link 35 as the toggle is operated.

A link is connected at its lower end to the rocker 35, and at its upper end has a wide-head Eta engageable with the counterweight. 38.formed.

Th striking hammer is provided with an -extending'arm or shaft M, the end 45a of which carries the hammer head to which is adapted-.toxstrike the tone producing element to when the :hammer is. operated. This toneproducingelement may be a wire or bar, or othersuitable tonezelement. The two shaft portions 54 and did of the hammer-are connected: for slight relative pivotal movement by a flexurespring 42,'fora purpose'later to be described. The flexure springnormallymaintains the shaft portions 4! andillain thepositionillustratedin Fig. 2, afelt pador -the like 1211 being provided for limiting the action: of he pring. A c p ession. sprin M lnormally holds the hammer in itsrais'ed positiongas shown in Fig. 2.

The wide head 31a of :the link :37 provides two contact points 5545 thatch-gage with corresponding contact surfaces formedzon the 'tham mer;counterweight-38, thepoint 45 beinga substantial. distance removed from'the;pivot point 43 of- :th'e'hammer; andthe point M being. removed a lesser distance- When thex:parts are in normal position as shown in Fig: 2, before "depression-:ofthe; operating key 15,- the head is in contact' with the counterweight: at the point 45;

there being a--slight :space vbetween the parts at the point it; as shown: in Fig. 2;" Thus iupon operation of the key resulting." in an' upward thrust of the .1ink'3l', the initial" upward thrust upon ;the counterweight r 35 will be. at the point 45; a pointsubstantially removed from the :,pivot of a hammer; facilitating the overcoming of the hammer inertia: Immediately thereafter; however, the contact is at the point 45 :whichis close to the pivot thus increasing-the velocity of the hammer;

The-rocker 35 has at its end an operating bar 1;? whichis adapted to engage a bell-crank 48' 1 gageable with the counterweight (id-for limiting its movement. More specifically, across frame member I carries an abutment member5fl'adjustably mounted on the cross frame by means of an adjustment screw or the like 5|. The abutment member 59 is provided with a pad 52 of felt Or other suitable material, the pad being adapted to be engaged by the counterweight 38 to limit the clockwise or striking movement of the hammer. Similarly, an abutment member 53 is pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the cross frame I I0, this abutment member being provided with a; pad 55 on its lower end for-limiting the counterclockwiseshifting of the counterweight. An adjustment screw 55 is provided for adjustably positioning the abutment member 53.

In operation, as the operating key 15 is depressed: the pull rod or tracker 29 will be shifted tothe left as seen in Fig. 2, effecting a straightening of the toggle 3|, 32, and an upward shifting.:oft,the 11311511. link.:34. This in turn results in a clockwise shifting of the rocker 35 and an upward'movement of the push link 31. As the link 31 is.;op,erated the striking; hammer; is. shifted clockwiserabout its .pivot 43. The abutment member 50 is so adjusted that it arrests the movement of thecounterweight 38 zwhen the .hammer striking headn55 reaches a position slightly spaced from the tone element .40,for'examplea suitable fraction of an inch or the like. The 'fiexure spring, ;42-:thereupon permits inertia of the hammer head, 39 l to complete the striking movement of the head intoengagement with-uthe tone producing-element." After the head. has engaged the element, the .flexure spring immediately operates-.to-return thenheadto its" slightly raised p sitionand separate the parts. Simultaneously ;as therstriking hammer is operated bythe push' link .3l; thedampener flfiris-raised by; the bellcrank 48, as previously pointed out. Asthe op eratinggforce; uponthe key" l5-is released, the springs M and 3B operate-t0 restore the 'parts to normal position. The spring 35; v by; its engagement with .the tracker abutment portion 29a, op-

erateseto effect an immediatebreakingzof the tacttarrangement Ma -46; between the push link 51=andthehammer-counterweight 38; As previously pointed out, the arrangement is such that as the .link 31 is-initiallyraised to operate the hammer, the point'ofengagement 45 which is relatively widely-spaced from the-hammer pivot point 43, furnishes a' relatively great mechanical advantage -to overcometheinertia of the hammer. counterweight and associated parts. Thereafter, after movement'of'the hammer hasbeen initiated, the point of engagement ifi becomes operative. lowermechanicaladvantage, a high mechanical advantage being no' longer needed. However, the contact point 46 furnishesa-higher speed ratio to insure adequateand rapid movement of the hammer as the key isdepressed;

A further importantfeature of the constructionis-the actioniof the fieXur-e spring 42, together with the adjustable abut-mentsifl and-53 for the hammer counterweight:- The-abutment 50.n1ay beadjusted to impart a-properarresting motion tothe counterweight, permitting, the flexure spring-;to eiiect a properstriking actionebe tween the hammer head 39 and the tone produc- This point of engagement furnishes aing element, the action being neither too heavy nor too light under the desired operating conditions. l

The toggle 3|, 32 is so arranged that as it is initially moved by the tracker 29, a maximum rate of movement is imparted to the push link 34 and parts operated thereby. Continued movement of the toggle, as it approaches its straight line position, results in a lesser rate of movement of the link 34. In this connection the action of the .return spring 3!] should be noted. It will be seen that this return spring, which is engaged at a predetermined position in the movement of the tracker 29, operates immediately upon release of the key l5, to break the toggle from its straight line position. Accordingly, even though the link 34 has its slower rate of travel when the toggle approaches its straight line position, the restoring spring 30 insures a quick-acting return of the parts.

The adjustment screw 20a of the link 20 also provides ready adjustment means for insuring proper operation of the action as the key I5 is depressed. This adjustment screw may be operated to effect an accurate adjustment between the key and the operated lever 2|, to insure the proper force and movement of the striking action, with each individual key.

Where space is to be conserved and a relatively large number of notes are to be provided for, I provide alternate series of actions and tone producing elements in staggered and superposed relation, as shown in Fig. 2. As the upper and lower actions are similar, no further specific description will be made. It will be understood, however, that longitudinally adjacent pedal keys will be connected alternately to upper and lower actions, as best shown in Fig. 2. Thus the key shown at the left in Fig. 2 has its tracker 29 connected by means of a toggle to a link or push rod 34 long enough to extend upwardly beyond, but in line with the link 34.

It will be understood, of course, that the actions in the upper and lower series will be staggored relative to each other, so that the lateral spacing of the actions will be equal to the lateral spacing of diagonally adjacent keys, as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 no effort has been made in the broken out arrangement to illustrate both upper and lower series of actions, only the lower series being shown.

As a means for throwing all of the actions out of operation, I provide lock-out control keys 5! and 58 mounted at opposite ends of a rocker 59, Fig. 2, connected to a push rod 60 having a spring detent 60a cooperating therewith. The lower end of the rod 60 is connected to a bellcrank 6| which, through a link 62, is adapted to operate one of a series of bell-cranks 63, fixed to a shaft 64. As best shown in Fig. 1, there is one bell-crank 63 for each rocker 35. Upon depression of the key 58, the bell-cranks 63 are operated to raise the rockers 35, thereby lowering the associated hammers and holding them out of operative position. Depression of the key 51 restores the parts to the operative position of Fig. 2, the-detent 60a being provided for maintaining the rocker 59 in the position to which it is moved, either by the actuation of the key 58 or the key 51. The bell-cranks 63 are further provided with push rods 65 engageable with the rockers 35' for the upper series of actions, for the same purpose as the bell-cranks 63 are engageable with the rockers 35 of the lower series.

It should be understood that while the tone producing elements 40 have been shown in horizontal position, they may be arranged vertically with a corresponding change in the position of the actions. Also, many of the features of the action may be found to be of value in other forms of musical instruments, particularly of the percussion type.

The matter of key arrangement is important and is subject to variation in many respects. In Fig. 1 I have indicated certain tones by the appropriate designations on the spaces adjacent to the keys. At the upper half of the drawing I have shown a platform section wherein the notes are arranged chromatically, additionally providing that the laterally adjacent keys as indicated at I511 and l5b, are arranged in fifths. At the lower half of the figure I have shown a keyboard section having an arrangement by which the longitudinally adjacent keys I and l5d are arranged in thirds, and this is likewise true of the keys 50 and [52 in lateral juxtaposition. In this arrangement the diagonally adjacent keys I50 and i5) are arranged in fifths.

This illustrates the facility with which numerous arrangements may be provided. Another arrangement in a simplified construction may be one in which alternate rows of keys are arranged according to the diatonic scale and disposed in thirds or fifths.

With arrangements such as described a dancer may produce harmonic tones with either or both feet, and two dancers may produce a full set of harmonics.

Obviously the arrangements may be varied within wide limits, and modifications may be made in the apparatus shown; and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a pedal piano, the combination of a se ries of pedal keys arranged in longitudinally and laterally spaced relation, a tone element for each key, an action for each key including a hammer, and means connecting each key to its action, said connecting means lying in juxtaposed laterally spaced relation and the longitudinally adjacent keys being offset laterally to at least the extent of the lateral width of the said connecting means.

. 2. In a pedal piano, the combination of a series of pedal keys laterally aligned and longitudinally offset, a series of tone elements, and actions connecting the keys and tone elements, said tone elements and actions being in juxtaposed laterally spaced relation and being laterally spaced apart to the extent of the lateral offset of the keys.

3. In a pedal piano, the combination of a series of pedal keys laterally aligned and longitudinally offset, two series of tone elements, one arranged above the other in staggered relation, and connecting actions between the tone elements and keys, longitudinally adjacent keys being connected to alternate upper and lower tone elements.

4. In combination, a platform adapted for dancing, a series of pedal keys substantially flush with the surface of said platform, tone elements and actions arranged in a bank in juxtaposed laterally spaced relation, connections including trackers connecting the actions to the keys, and means in said actions and connections for multiplying the motion of the keys relative to the strikers of the actions.

; In combination, a platform adapted: for

dancing, a series of pedal keys substantiallyflush' With'the surface of said'platform, tone elements and actions, connections including trackers connecting the actions to'the keys, and means in said actions'and connections for multiplyig. the motion of the keys relative to the strikersof the actions, said keys being arranged' in longitudinally staggered relation whereby to provide straight tracker connections to closely spaced tone elements.

6. In combination, a platform adapted for dancing, a-series of pedalkeys substantially flush with the surface-of said platform, tone elements and actions, and means connecting the actions to the keys, said keys being in diagonally disposed relation and being so spaced that two thereof may be simultaneously actuated by one foot of an operator.

7; In combination, a platform. adapted for dancing, a series of pedal keys sunk in and substantially flush with the surface of said platform, tone elements and actions, and means connecting the actions to the keys, said keys being in diagonally disposed relation and being so spaced that two thereof may be simultaneously actuated by one foot of an operator, certain tone elements in thirds being connected to adjacent keys that are so spaced.

8. In combination, a platform adapted dancing, a series of pedal keys sunk in and substantially flush with the surface of said platform, tone elements and actions, and means connecting the actions to the keys, said keys being in diagonally disposed relation and being so spaced that two thereof-may be simultaneously actuated by one foot of an operator, certain toneelements in fifths being connected to adjacent keys that are so spaced.

9. In combination, a platform adapted for dancing, a series of pedal keys substantially flush with the surface of said platform, tone elements and actions, and means connectingth'e actions to the keys, said keys being in diagonally disposed I relation and being so spaced that two thereof may be simultaneously actuated by one foot of an operator, ton elements in harmonic relation being connected to adjacent keysthat are so spaced.

10. In an action for a musical instrument, the combination of a tone producing element, a hammer engageable with said element, a thrustbar for moving the hammer, a, toggle for moving thethrust bar, a tracker for exerting apull tending to straighten the toggle, a shiftable key, and

hammer engageable with said element, a thrust bar for moving the-hammer, a toggle forinoving the thrust bar a tracker for exerting a pull tending to straighten the toggle, a'key aranged for vertically downward straight line movement, and means for transmitting the thrust ofthe key-to a pull on the tracker.

12. In an action, the combination of a tone forproducing element; a, pivotedmammerzhaving 11a; strikerxengageablel with the :element .OIl operation: of the hammer, a thrust member engageable-with the hamme on" the:- side; of the pivottopposite to the striker for operating the 'hammer, means for operatingthezthrust' member, said: thrust member. having a'wide head, one point'on: which contacts the hammer when in normal Eposition: at 'a'point removed from ;the pivot, and another. point on. the head for contacting thezhammerzat :a point nearerto the pivot, .as...thethrust member .is operated and-.tthe .hammermoves toward strikingposition;

13. In anaction, thezcombination' of-Ja..toneproducing. eiement, a: hammer comprising; a.

striker engageable'with' the element on=.operation of the hammer, a pivot for the hammer, said hammer havingacounter-Weigh't outside-of the pivot, and a push' -rod'h'aving a head providedwith laterally separated contact faces adapted. on operation to successively engage surfaceson the counterweight'to actuate the hammer, the faces engaging surfaces nearer to the hammer pivot point as the hamme moves to striking .position, and means foroperating the push rod;

14. In an action; the combination of a key, a tone producing element, a hammer having a striker engageable with said tone producing ele'- ment on operation of the hammer, and an action connecting the key and thehammer whereby" operation of the key operates the hammer, said hammer being formed-of'anoperating portion and a striking portion, saidtwo hammer portions i being resiliently connected by resilient spring connecting means, and means for limitingthe operating movement of the hammer operating portion.

15. In combination, a platform adapted for' dancing, a series of pedal keys sunk in and substantially flush with the surface of said platform, tone elements and actions, trackers connecting the actions to the keys, and asingle means for rendering all said keys inoperative;

16. An action for a musical instrument as de fined in claim 10, wherein adjustment means is provided for adjusting the position of the key with respect to the position of the toggle.

17. An action for a musical instrument'as defined in claim 10, wherein spring means is provided for breaking the toggle upon release of the key.

18. In an action, the combination of a tone producing element, a pivoted hammer having a striker'engageable with the element on operation of the hammer, a thrust member engageable with the hammer in predetermined spaced relation to the pivot thereof for operating the hammer, means for operating the thrust member, said thrust member having a'wide head, one point on Which contacts the hammer when in normal position at a point removed from the pivot, and another pointon the'head for contacting the hammer at a point nearer to the pivot, as'the thrust member is operated and the hammer moves toward striking position.

CHARLES P. KIMMEL. 

